Cervical collar



United States Patent [72] Inventor John L. Bond North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659 [21] Appl. No. 599,872 [22] Filed Dec. 7, 1966 [45] Patented Sept. 29, 1970 [S4] CERVICAL COLLAR 5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 128/75, 128/87 [51] Int. Cl A61h 1/02 [50] Field ol'Search 128/75, 76, 68, 87, 87.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,892 9/1924 Mikalsen 272/80 2,818,063 12/1957 Smith 128/87 2,828,736 4/1958 Monfardini 128/75 2,911,970 11/1959 Bartels 128/75 3,050,052 8/1962 Grassl.... 128/75 3,060,930 10/1962 Grassl.... 128/75 3,135,256 6/1964 Gruber 128/75 3,285,244 11/1966 Cottrell 128/75 3,306,284 2/1967 McKinley 128/75 Primary Examiner-Adele M. Eager Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney- David Rabin ABSTRACT: This invention relates generally to orthopedic devices and more particularly to a new and improved cervical collar formed from a flexible material and adapted to be adjustably encircled around the neck of a patient for correction of defective cervical level conditions.

Patented Sept. 29, 1970 FIG.2

Sheet l of F I G. l

YINVEN'TOR. JOHN L. BOND FIG.3

. v ,5 Patented Sept,29,1970 3 3 JOHN L. BOND CERVICAL COLLAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cervical collars are commonly employed for treating neckv injuries, such as whiplas injuries and other dislocations which -resultin muscular strain or nerve pressure in the cervical area. These -collars'arealsoextremelyuseful in the treat ment of certain--pathological conditions such astorticollis. Generally these collarsperform two functions, (l)'they partially immobilize the wearers head, and (2) at the same time they" provide meansfor supportingthe wearers head upon his or her chest so asto reli'eve strain upon the neck muscles;

For the most part; cervical collars heretofore developed have necessarily been custom made to fitthe particular user and to meethisneeds. While universal collars have heretofore been suggested, these -have not been practicalor extensively commercialized because of the necessity of heavy, expensive and uncomfortable partsincluding manymetal components for accomplishing-the necessary adjustmentsof the-patients head withhis orhe'r body.

OBJECT S OF THE INVENTION 'collar having .novelwerticalFneck-adjustability to obtain apluralityofdifferingcollar-sizes.

v Yet anotherobject of the-present=invention .is-to provide a cervicalcollarmade from a comfortable flexible" material" which utiliies a plurality of :cooperatingpairs of strips of Velcro tape 'to secure'the collar abouttheneck of a wearer and make the necessary adjustments vertically and otherwise to accommodate wearers of diffei'entsize and shape;

Still *anotherobject 'of-the' present invention" is-toprovide -a c'ervica'lcollar' that is extremely lightweightand uncomfortable'forthe wearerand whichwhas no metalor otherwise uncomfortable parts-to contact the wearer's skin.

With the above'and a numberof other objects in mind, this invention-consists of the novel features of 1 construction; combination and'arrangement of-parts; hereinafterfully described, claimed and illustrated in 'the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthe specificatiomandin which similar. characters of reference indicate correspondingparts throughoutthe several views and in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. I is a-front-elevational view of. oneembodiment of a novel cervical collar shaped in a neck-encircling, position" showing the=chin-receivingslit and slit-spanning chin saddle carried-thereby;

FIG. 2 is a-side'elevationalview of the cervicalcollar of FIG. I positioned m a" neck-encircling manner showing the downwardly extendingintegral apron which. engages the chest oral-wearer andencloses the wearer's neck from the chin downy FIG; 3 is a rear elevationaltview of thecervical collar shown inTIGSI I and'Z positioned in a neck'-encircling:manner and s'howirigrthesecurementofithe collar in thatposition by means of cooperatingstrips of Velcro tape;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view'of a second embodiment ofa cervical collarhaving an articulated and adjustable downwardly extending apron and a chin-receivingslit includingra slit-spanningasaddle'to accommodate the wearers chin therein;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational separated and slightly frag-- mented view of the cervical collar shown in FIG. 4 with thear. ticulated and adjustable apron isolated from the'neck-encircling portion so that the plurality of cooperating Velcro .tape strips are disclosed which permit the apron to be adjusted with respect to the neck-encircling portion;

FIG. 6 is a sideelevational .view of the cervical collarshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 demonstrating the'articulatedland adjustable apron positioned with respect to the neck-encircling portion for a wearer having a relatively short neck length or for a cervical condition requiring such a configuration;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the cervical collar as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 demonstrating the articulated and adjustable apron in an extended position to accommodatea wearer having a somewhat elongated neck or requiring such 'a configuration for treatment;

FIG; 8 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of a cervical collar having an integral and adjustable downwardly extending apron and chin-receiving means associated withtheneck-encircling portion, the adjustment and securement of thecollar being accomplished by the use of a plurality of cooperating strips of Velcro tape;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the cervical collar of FIG. 8 showing the adjustability of the downwardly extending apron by the use of cooperating strips-of, Velcro tape;

FIG. l0is a side elevational view of the cervical collarshown in FIGS. 8 and 9 formed in a neck-encircling position and illustrating the integrally connected, and adjustable downwardly extending apron in a position to accommodate the wearer having a relatively. short neck length or requiring,

such a configuration for proper treatment; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view .of the, ceryicalcollar. shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and.10 having the integrally, connected and adjustable downwardly extending apron positionedto accommodate a wearer having a relatively elongated neck or requiring such a configuration for proper treatment,

DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and particularly to-FIGSQI designated 17 since each of these pairs of strips includes' a I female pile strip 18which is attached to the inner surface of an extending fastening band 21 andra male or hook. strip 19 at.- tached to the outer surface of portion 14. The male stripincludes a large number of tiny hooks which engage .loops o'ntlie female pile strip when the two strips are pressed together, and this lockingengagement is effective toholdthe two strips of tapetogether against either a direct pulling or sliding move-. ment, but permits the tapes to be separated readily by a pee]- ing action.

A padded rim or perimeter 20 encircles substantially the en'- tire exposed edge of the neck-encirclingportion,14.0fthe collar 12 shown in FIGS. 1 through3 to provide padding for the wearer as the neck, chin and jaw rests against the upper edge 23 of portion 14 while the shoulders and chest arecontiguous with the lower edge 25 of that portion.

The center of the upper edge 23 of the neck-encircling member 14 forms a chin-receiving slit generally designated 22 to receivecooperatively the chin of a wearer once the collar has been placed in a desired position. Cooperating with theslit is a slit-spanning saddle shown generally as24 formed. by a'n adjustable flexible strap 27 secured to neck-encircling member 14 by rivets or the like 26 arid fitted to accommodate the physical characteristics of the chin contour of a wearer by an adjusting buckle 28 associated therewith.

Thus this first embodiment of a cervical collar includes a neck-encircling portion 14 having an integrally formed downwardly extending apron 29 covering the wearers neck below the chin and resting on the wearers chest to sustain the head in a pre-selected or desired position. Obviously, reasonable size adjustments may be made by varying the length of the chin saddle 24 while abnormally large adjustments would require the use of a separately sized collar 12 whose integral apron 29 would extend downwardly for a greater length.

A second embodiment of a cervical collar generally designated 30 is shown in FIGS. 4 through 7 and comprises a neck-encircling portion 32, cooperating Velcro strips to secure that portion about the neck 34 and 36 and chin-receiving means generally designated 38 similar to that described above which includes particularly a chin-receiving slit 40 and a slit-spanning chin saddle 42 movably connected to portion 32 by rivets 44 or the like and adjustable in length and application by means of a buckle 46 cooperating therewith. Again plurality of apertures 48 are provided for ventilation.

Cervical collar 30 is provided with an articulated and adjustable downwardly extending apron 50 which is vertically positionable by means of a plurality of cooperating Velcro strips 52 so as to provide a collar of considerably more flexibility than heretofore described as collar adjustability is a function of both the articulated apron 50 and the adjustable slit-spanning saddle 42. This particular embodiment also has padding 54 covering all body-contiguous edges of the collar to eliminate any discomfort to the wearer.

The adjustability of this collar is best illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 where the cooperation of the adjustable saddle 42 and articulated apron 50 is clearly set forth and easily understood. In FIG. 6, apron 50 is shortened to almost an extreme upward position, and saddle 42 is pivoted upwardly about securing element 44 to adjust for the physical characteristics or injury of a particular wearer. On the other hand, FIG. 7 illustrates apron 50 in an adjusted, considerably lower position while saddle 42 has been pivoted to accommodate the chin of a wearer having a differing chin and neck configuration or injury. Obviously, innumerable variations and adjustments can be accomplished using the present cervical collar for any physical characteristics and ailments of the wearer.

A third embodiment of a cervical collar utilizing the principles set forth herein is illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11 wherein the collar generally designated 56 comprises a partially separated neck-encircling portion 58 which is formed in two segments 59 and 61 and provided with cooperating strips of Velcro tape 60 and 62 such as previously described to secure the portion 58 about the neck of the wearer. A padded edge 64 comforts the wearer and a chin-receiving slit 66 is spanned by a saddle 68 pivotal at points 70 and adjustable by a buckle 72 similar to that shown in the previous embodiments.

A downwardly extending apron 74 is integrally connected or situated with the neck-encircling portion 58 at points 76 and 78 as the common padding 64 holds the apron and neckencirling portion immovable with respect to each other at these particular locations by the applied stitching. Essentially, there is formed an integrally adjustable, downwardly extending apron 74 in conjunction with the neck-encircling portion 58 which adjustability is provided for by means of cooperating Velcro strips 80 on the contiguous surfaces of apron 74 and neck-encircling portion 58. The adjustablility is best illustrated in FIG. 9 where the apron 74 is shown as having been moved significantly downwardly and retained in that position by the Velcro fasteners 80. The resulting vertical adjustability provides a cervical collar of flexibility of application and simplicity in construction equal to or surpassing the adjustable embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7.

FIGS. and 1] illustrate the apron adjustability feature to provide for differing neck lengths or injuries of the wearer with which even greater flexibility can be attained when used in conjunction with saddle 68 (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11).

Thus the embodiment of a cervical collar 56 shown in FIGS. 8 through 11 has a chin-receiving slit 66 and a chin saddle 68 spanning the slit which cooperate with the integral and adjustable apron 74 to engage and retain the chin of a wearer and thus sustain the wearers head in a selected or desired position. The adjustable apron is then positioned by means of a plurality of cooperating pairs of male and female Velcro strips respectively secured to the contiguous'surfaces of the neck-encircling portion 58 and the apron 74 of the collar for interlocking engagement. These Velcro strips are thus effective to hold the apron against the chest in a preselected position so that the wearers head is held accordingly.

In addition to the obvious vertical adjustablility existing between the movable aprons 50 and 74 and neck-encircling members 32 and 58 in the second and third embodiments disclosed, these aprons 50 and 74 can be shifted somewhat horizontally relative to one another or can be angularly positioned relative to one another by overlapping one end of the sections to a greater or lesser degree than the opposite section. Thus, the collars can be readily fitted to provide optimum support for a wryneck condition in which the head is tilted, or for a condition in which the head must be supported in a position in which it is twisted to one side.

Obviously, many modifications and changes can be made in the cervical collars herein disclosed within the scope of the appended claims including the neck-encircling portion, the chinreceiving portion and the adjustable apron portions as well as other phases of the present inventive concept without departing from the real spirit and purpose of the invention. Such modifications and changes including the use of mechanical equivalents are contemplated.

I claim:

1. A cervical collar formed from flexible material to fit the neck of a wearer comprising: a neck-encircling member having a downwardly extending apron covering the neck below the chin and resting on the chest and shoulders of the wearer; means for securing said member in a neck-encircling position about the neck of a wearer; said neck-encircling member including a rim portion around the upper perimeter of the neckencircling member; flexible chin-receiving means for supporting the chin of a wearer; said rim portion including upstanding, opposed lobes, each having an arcuate peripheral surface, said member forming a slit between said lobes, and said slit and said flexible chin-receving means adapted to receive, engage, and retain the chin, said chin-receiving means extending over the arcuate surface of one of said opposed lobes, underneath a wearer's chin and over the arcuate surface of the other of said opposed lobes, said chin-receiving means being adjustably positionable on the arcuate surfaces of said opposed lobes for automatically raising or lowering said chinreceiving means between said opposed lobes to support the chin of a wearer in various positions.

2. A cervical collar as defined in claim 1 said chin-receiving means including a saddle portion spanning said slit, said slit and saddle portion cooperating with said apron to engage and retain the chin and sustain the head in a selected position.

3. A cervical collar as defined in claim 1, said downwardly extending apron being integrally adjustable with said neck-en'- circling member, said chin-receiving means including a chin saddle and said slit and saddle cooperating with said adjustable apron to engage and retain the the chin and sustain the head in a desired position.

4. A cervical collar as defined in claim 3, said neck-encircling member and said integrally adjustable apron having a plurality of cooperating pairs of male and female Velcro strips respectively secured thereto for interlocking engagement and being effective to hold said apron against the chest in a preselected head-supported position.

5. A cervical collar formed from flexible material to fit the neck of a wearer comprising: a neck-encircling member; means for securing said member in a neck-encircling position about the neck of a wearer; said neck-encircling member including a rim portion around the upper perimeter of the necking or lowering said chin-receiving means between said opposed lobes to support the chin of a wearer in various positions, said member securing means including a plurality of cooperating pairs of male and female Velcro strips attached to said neck-encircling member for interlocking engagement and being effective to hold said member in a neck-encircling positron. 

